FCC Broadband Data Collection Filing Window Closes March 1, 2023

The FCC Broadband Data Task Force announced that the second Broadband Data Collection (BDC) filing window opened on January 3, 2023, and the required data submissions may be made at any time up until the deadline of March 1, 2023. The BDC process is now the FCC's primary broadband data collection mechanism and is superseding the 477 data collection process for broadband deployment information. The FCC recently sunset Form 477 data submission obligations, leaving the BDC submission process as the primary mechanism for the agency to collect this data. Accordingly, all facilities-based providers of fixed and mobile broadband internet access or voice service must submit subscribership and availability data (i.e., where their mass-market broadband internet service is available as of December 31, 2022) no later than March 1, 2023.

Who Must File and What Data Must Be Submitted

Depending on the type of network technology that is deployed and service offered, service providers are required to submit the following data: fixed broadband availability and subscription data; mobile voice availability; and mobile and fixed voice subscription data. More information for filers can be found here.

• Facilities-Based Broadband Providers: Facilities-based providers of fixed and/or mobile mass-market broadband internet access service who have one or more end-user connections in service as of December 31, 2022, must file availability and subscription data. Fixed wireline and satellite broadband providers must file either polygon coverage areas in GIS data format or a list of locations in the provider's service area. Fixed wireless broadband service providers must submit propagation maps and model details or a list of locations in the provider's service area that conform to the locations in the new version of the FCC's Broadband Serviceable Location Fabric.
• Mobile Service Providers: Facilities-based providers of mobile voice service who have one or more end-user connections in service as of December 31, 2022, are required to submit availability and subscription data. Required information includes propagation maps and propagation model details for each network technology and for both outdoor stationary and in-vehicle mobile network coverage. Signal strength heat map data information must also be submitted.
• Voice Service Providers: Providers of fixed voice service that do not offer broadband internet access service must file fixed voice subscription data in BDC.
• Other Providers: Providers that were required to file FCC Form 477 in the past are most likely required to submit data in the BDC. As of the December 31, 2022, data collection, filers now must submit broadband deployment data and Form 477 broadband and voice subscription data through the BDC System (and not the Form 477 filing interface).

• Governmental entities: Federal, state, and tribal agencies responsible for mapping or tracking broadband coverage, may also submit data by the March 1, 2023, deadline.

The current filing window utilizes an updated Broadband Serviceable Location Fabric – the tool used to identify all serviceable locations in the U.S. Providers that are existing licensees of the Fabric should have received information providing them access to the updated Fabric data before the January 3, 2023, filing window opened.

How to Submit Data

Data must be submitted in the BDC System, requiring providers to set up accounts with a username and password in the Commission's Registration System (CORES) associated with the entity's FRN (FCC Registration Number), along with additional steps prior to submission. The FCC has provided tutorials, submission guides, and posted FAQs, but the BDC System is new to many providers and early filing will allow providers to make corrections prior to the March 1, 2023, deadline and avoid possible enforcement actions and penalties.

DWT is available to answer questions and assist throughout each stage of the data preparation and submission process to ensure timely and accurate submissions.

* On the date of this publication, Edlira Kuka was a law student at Seattle University School of Law and worked as a communications law, regulation & policy manager at DWT. On November 7, 2023, Edlira was admitted to practice law in the District of Columbia and became an attorney with DWT's Communications Practice.